NORMAN — John McArthur, the current provost of Cameron University, was named the university's new president Friday.

John McArthur

The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents voted at a meeting Friday to authorize regents Chairman Richard Dunning to negotiate a contract with McArthur. McArthur will step into the post July 1.

McArthur was selected for the post from a pair of candidates, with the other candidate being former Lt. Gov. Jari Askins. Askins now serves as associate provost for university relations at OU Health Sciences Center.

Both McArthur and Askins were well-qualified for the position, Dunning said, leaving the board with a difficult choice.

McArthur succeeds outgoing President Cindy Ross, who has led the university since 2002 and plans to retire this summer.

McArthur has served as the university's provost since 2006. Before that, he served as the dean of the university's School of Science and Technology from 2004-06.

Before coming to Cameron, McArthur taught at Colorado State University — Pueblo and Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he served as the chair of the computer science and technology department from 1999-2001.